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
Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux could be on the move.
The Patriots granted Godchaux permission to seek a trade, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday afternoon from the NFL Scouting Combine. Godchaux signed a two-year contract extension last offseason that has yet to kick in.
Trading Godchaux before June 1 would free up $1.67 million in salary cap space while the Patriots would eat $6.67 million in dead money. Releasing Godchaux before June 1 would actually cost the Patriots $2.33 million in cap space.
A post-June 1 trade would free up $5 million in cap space, while a post-June 1 release would result in $1 million in cap savings.
The Patriots currently have Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Eric Johnson, Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Jaquelin Roy on their defensive tackle depth chart. The team also signed Marcus Harris to a future deal.
New head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams are introducing a new defensive scheme that will have the unit playing with more of an attacking style. Godchaux is more of a space-eating nose tackle and might not be viewed as an ideal fit in the new system.